After the arrival of the Mi'arr species into the Sol System in the early 22nd century. An influx of new technologies that would change the course of of history began to immerge. Many ideas humanity was just beginning to grasp and manufacture on it's own, such as gravitic thrusters and warp drive technology were greatly expanded upon.  

These new technologies were expensive and largely untested. Their most basic capabilities were still unknown, to say nothing for the risks involved. Nevertheless, it was clear that the age of chemical rockets had finally come to an end and something faster, safer, and genuinely better in every way was needed. 

Just a few decades before, Starlite Aerospace had delivered the F-8 starfighter, a scaled down and updated version of the 1970s designed Northrop TR-3B "Astra" EGLV (ElctroGravitic Lift Vehicle)

The F-8 was built as an air-superiority fighter utilizing 4, belly mounted gravitic thrusters powered by a small fusion reactor. It was so far beyond anything else flying at the time, that it rendered every single air force on Earth obsolete overnight.

It very quickly became obvious that these craft were capable of far more than just being fighter craft, as the F-8 could fly to the Moon. Land on it, and then return in under an hour. Nothing else humanity had could even come close to matching it.



Aboard the Mi'arr Superark, a hanger that had been inaccessible for eons was opened with the help of the Human ships. Inside, perfectly preserved Mi'arr auxiliary craft were found. Some still covered in a wax-like film that was applied in the factories.

Two small personnel shuttles, a small starfighter wing, and a large cargo-type shuttle along with several dozen "Tick-Tack" shaped scout drones of various size were discovered. All in perfect, working order.

Mi'arr shuttles, and their scout drones were very similar in design. Pill-shaped with very little in the way of features of any kind. They were smooth, flat, and had "remarkably bad" sensors suites installed, according to the Human engineer who first inspected them.

One of these shuttles and several of the fighters would find their way to Starlite's R&D department before the Ark had even cleared Earth's orbital range around the sun on it's way to Venus.

Once there, they were disassembled down to the last insignificant pieces before being reassembled and stripped down again.


By the year 2120. The Mi'arr people and Humanity were both caught up in the shared goals of terraforming both Venus and Mars. A monumental task that would require far more advanced and capable vessels than the obsolete, rocket ships that were currently being utilized in large numbers. 

The rockets, they still had a role to play in transporting non-perishable, non-essential goods between worlds; And indeed, rocket powered craft never truly died out, they just became recreational craft. 

With the Mons-class ships beginning to receive gravitic thrusters to replace their MLH-1 (Metallic Liquid Hydrogen - Fuel 1) powered engines as well. The trips between Earth and Venus went from around 80-120 days, to 12-14 hours.

It would take slightly longer to reach Jupiter or Saturn; And about 2 weeks to Pluto. With the Starsurfer and Proxima-Terra-classes of FTL transports now launching at a more frequent rate: And with larger ships such as the Osprey-class Heavy Cruiser well under development.

What was really needed was something to go from surface, to the ship, and back again reliably, and safely. A simple shuttle in ever sense of the word. 

Rockets were pretty safe and reliable by this point, but at the end of the day, a rocket will always be a giant bomb. A gravitic thruster running on a fusion reactor literally cannot explode unless you drive it into something at full speed. Then the hydrogen that powers the reactor will ignite, but that's all. 



In 2123, The Starlite Aerospace Transport model 2123 Tardigrade Mk-1, better known simply as the T-23 Tardigrade first took to the skies over Earth. A 5-seat, 6 engine GPT (General Purpose Transport) capable of transferring both crew, and cargo from any planetary surface, to a spaceship waiting in any orbit. 

They can be flown manually, remotely, or autonomously to meet any mission requirement. They require only metallic liquid hydrogen as a fuel source and can maintain level flight in 1g for approximately 48 hours, or around 36 hours in a hover before refueling is required. 

Built-in crash-avoidance systems mean that the shuttle will automatically land itself if it's fuel reserves reach critical levels, and will prevent the user from crashing into another vessel or ground-based structure at high speed. 

four sensor suites in the nose, and two more behind each tail light provide forward, and aft proximity detection and ranging.  While two separate sensors on the back and belly provide vertical proximity warning and avoidance system. 



Multi-engine out capabilities help ensure a soft and controlled landing, even in the worst case scenario. T-23s have been known to land safely with only 2 function engines after coming under anti-aircraft fire. 

Their landing skids which sit flush with the hull when in flight make it capable of landing on any surface, including liquid. The T-23 can also skid on it's belly for hundreds of meters and incur very little damage thanks to the titanium skis and skid plate attached to it's belly. 

If all else fails, the T-23 is equipped with 3 parachutes stowed under aerodynamic covers on the back of the craft. This was only an option on Earth. At the time, there was no chance of rescue from Venus, and Mars' atmosphere was still much too thin when the Mk-1 first flew.

It's not know fully whether these were ever actually deployed in an emergency or not, but some sources indicated that, yes they were in fact used on at least one occasion, and they did indeed work. 

The new shuttles proved so effective that they directly drove the prices of several "rare earths" up 10-fold because demand was so high that many of the materials simply couldn't be mined or located fast enough. 
 
Eventually, production was moved partially off-world so that the new, mobile factory built just for the T-23 could be attached to material-rich asteroids and turn them directly into shuttle components. 



For generations since the first model flew, Starlite Aerospace has continued to produce similar shuttles under the T-23 nameplate. And though many other species and companies build both licensed, and unlicensed clones; Some in fact are very good, none are ever as good as the real thing. 

They're said to simply be built better, out of better materials with a higher level of care put into the design and manufacturing process. It's hard to argue with results as even in the 44th century, many of the original Mk-1s are still flying.

On top of that, the Mk-1 design is copied ad nauseam by other companies well into the 44th century. Because it's no longer protected by patent or copyright, being so ancient. Anyone can produce and sell clones of it.

They're technically not suppose to actually call it a "T-23" or "Tardigrade" anywhere in the name, though many do and Starlite doesn't pursue them for the most part, unless it's truly an unsafe product. 
 
The Mk-1 would be produced and upgraded over the years from 2123 to 2197 when it was replaced with the Mk-2. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​

- Mk-26 iteration. 

The latest "Mk-26" version first displayed publicly at the 4430 Intergalactic Star and Sky expo on Terra Aquarius (Formerly TRAPPIST 1e) barley even resembles the original shuttle aside from also having six thrusters and commonly being painted bright green.

It's significantly larger and incorporates a more aerodynamic design. It's also built with both military, and civilian applications in mind. Where as the original was built strictly for space exploration. Mainly ship-to-ground operations and not as the "flying car" they would inevitably become. 

Starlite knew this would eventually be the case though, as the shuttles aged they would find themselves in civilian hands and that is why they incorporate tail lights and head lights as well as traditional aircraft running lights because at the time, no one knew what the rules for "flying cars" would actually be. 

The T-23 would quickly go from a glorious symbol of rapid Human advancement, to an affordable everyman's shuttle in the span of a few short decades; And though it's role is far from glorious in most cases, the T-23 continues to serve as the go-to small shuttle for the Terran Alliance.



With 26 different models and countless variations over nearly 2500 years. The Tardigrade has been used as everything from small, civilian houseboats to lethal military gunships. 

It's a shuttle that refuses to be relegated to just one role. It's for everything, a spaceship for everyone. Cheap, affordable, and reliable; Costing no more than a small boat or mid-sized sedan, anyone can afford one.

Like it's namesake, it has proven itself able to withstand the most punishing conditions across millennia and come out totally unscathed.  From the frozen vacuum of space, to the crushing infernos of pre-terraformed Venus and the crushing gravity and pressure of Jupiter's upper atmosphere, or the blackest depths of Earth's oceans.

Whether during peace or under a hail of gunfire. The T-23 will take you there, and bring you back again safely.